POS/BUA 248 (3 credits)

A Tourism, Hospitality, and Outdoor Recreation (THOR) Institute Vacationland Course hosted by UMA, open to students from any of Maine’s 7 public universities

Photo: Alexius Horatius – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

Join us in Augusta, Maine’s capital city, to learn more about the policy and regulation components that underlie the industries that give Maine its moniker as Vacationland! This three credit course combines three academic disciplines – Business Management, Public Administration and Public Policy/Regulation in a study of Maine’s leading industry – Tourism, Hospitality and Outdoor Recreation (THOR).

Through a combination of in-person experiential learning and online modules, with guest speakers, in-class lectures, and site visits to various state, federal, and local government and nonprofit entities, whether students are looking for more information about starting a THOR business, or operating and growing an existing one, this course will provide valuable foundational knowledge regarding policy and regulation considerations.

Dates

May 12-17, 2024 (in-person, experiential learning component in Augusta) Online learning modules will span May 20-24.

Lodging and Transportation

During the in-person portion of the course, students will be housed in single rooms in Erskine Hall at the UMA Hallowell campus. Students will check in the late afternoon of May 12. During the program, transportation will be provided for students to travel between campus and the various activities and site visits. Note: Students will be responsible for making their own travel arrangements to get to and from UMA’s Hallowell campus.

Faculty

David Leach, MPA

Lecturer of Business Administration, Program Coordinator for Public Administration
University of Maine at Augusta

david.leach@maine.edu

Cost

We are excited to be offering this course at minimal cost to students! All enrolled students will receive scholarship funding from the Governor’s Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan which will cover the cost of the activities, accommodations, and three credits of tuition and fees.

Students should be prepared to cover the cost of some meals during the course, personal expenses, and also costs related to arranging their own transportation to and from Augusta/Hallowell.

How to Enroll

If you are interested in enrolling in this course, please reach out the THOR faculty from your home institution! If you are unsure who that is, a directory can be found here.

Once you are ready to enroll, please complete this brief enrollment form to get the process started.

The priority deadline is April 8. There are limited spaces available and students will be enrolled on rolling basis, so don’t hesitate to reach out!

Additional Questions?

If you have questions about this opportunity, you can reach out to the Program Manager of the THOR Institute, Emily Zider at emily.zider@maine.edu